Universal support for a hand operated device

Claim 1

A universal support for a hand operated device comprising: a platform having a holding surface for holding said device; a base having datum engaging surface, a body engaging surface, and belt receiving means for attachment to a user's waist; a connector connected to pivot about a first axis at one end to said platform and connected to pivot about a second axis parallel to said first axis at its other end to said base; first lock means for locking said platform to said connector with a selected angular orientation at said first pivot connection; second lock means for locking said base to said connector with a selected angular orientation at said second pivot connection; and wherein when said base is pivoted relative to said connector to a first angular position and locked so that the base is attached to the waist of the user's body by a belt, supporting the datum engaging surface against the user's abdominal area, and said platform is pivoted relative to said connector to a second angular position and locked so that said platform is in a plane transverse to a plane containing said base and said hand operated device is held on said holding surface and freely manipulated by the user's hands and fingers; wherein when said base is pivoted relative to said connector to a third angular position and locked so that said base can be supported on a datum by said datum engaging surface as the user's legs engage said body engaging surface, and said platform is pivoted relative to said connector to a fourth angular position and locked so that said platform is in a plane substantially parallel to a plane containing said base and said hand operated device can be held on said holding surface and freely manipulated by the user's hands and fingers; and wherein said apparatus is pivotal between a first position and a second position, said positions being mutually exclusive of each other.